Happy Holidays, Panthers! We hope you’re enjoying your time with family, friends and loved ones this time of the year. Before we usher in the new year, let’s say goodbye to 2016 with some of our favorite moments and images from December, captured by FIU photographers Carl-Frederick Francois, Ben Guzman, Eduardo Merille and Doug Garland.

A local elementary student receives a brand new bike during the annual Holiday Celebration for Children, an FIU tradition that aims to inspire boys and girls to get good grades and pursue a college education. But its main goal is to simply put a smile on their faces. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois

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Biomedical engineering major Karla Montejo prepares to cook up a meal at the Taste of FIU Cook-Off Competition held Dec. 9 at the Graham Center Ballrooms. The annual event is becoming one of the most popular on-campus fundraisers for the United Way Campaign. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois

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There is nothing like the thrill of making it to graduation! More than 4,900 students graduated this fall during one of FIU’s nine commencement ceremonies held at FIU Arena from Dec. 11-14. Photo by Carl-Frederick Francois

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We love how creative our students get with their graduation caps! Here are a few of our favorites from the Fall 2016 commencement ceremonies. Photos by Ben Guzman

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The sun sets on Modesto A. Maidique Campus after another beautiful South Florida winter’s day. Photo by Eduardo Merille

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Panthers in D.C.! FIU students are making an impact on the nation’s capital, interning at Capitol Hill, federal agencies, network news bureaus and non-profits. Stay tuned for the FIU Magazine‘s winter issue featuring all the happenings of FIU in D.C.Photo by Doug Garland

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Virtual reality dinosaurs where all the hit at a Dell event hosted by FIU in D.C. earlier this month. Guests were treated to the latest in virtual technology entering a world where the prehistoric beings still roam. Photo by Doug Garland